Run or Walk?

I did it. I finally got up, out of bed this morning, put on my running clothes and went for a walk. You see, I go through phases with exercising. I guess, after this morning I’m starting a new phase. I’m tired of my pants fitting too tight and my shirts clinging to my belly so I look pregnant (I assure you, I am not). Its time to loose 25 pounds, again….

April 2008, after 4 months of training, I ran my first half marathon (13.1 miles). The Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon. I was inspired after watching my uber fit sister finish marathons, tri-athlon's and other athletic events. I ate well, followed my training schedule, lost a lot of weight and felt fantastic. My sister, Megan trained with me and ran with me that day, it was an awesome experience. The evening after I finished and the few days that followed were tough. I felt like I had a stick up my butt, I couldn’t navigate stairs and I cried if you looked at me wrong. It was such an emotional and physical experience that I can’t accurately describe it. Needless to say, I was sick of running so I stopped and of course I started to indulge, again.

January 2009, after about 2 months of training I ran my second half marathon. This time, it was a family and friend affair. We set our sights on the Phoenix Rock-N-Roll 1/2 Marathon. A great time of year to get out of cold and gloomy Salt Lake and head to sunny Phoenix. A whole group of us trained and ran, including my husband, mom, both sisters and my future brother-in-law (as well as some of my Mom’s friends that joined her for her first 1/2). Again, awesome, emotional and painful experience. I lost some of the weight that I gained after the Salt Lake 1/2.

Well, guess what? I haven’t really run since. I feel like I’ve put the weight back on two fold and its time to get moving again! I’m tentatively putting my sights on the Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon coming up in April. The challenge is that I have not given myself enough time to really train so I think I may walk it. So the question of the day is should I walk or run?

Finally, I convinced myself that after my 2 mile walk this morning that it would be OK to crack open a Diet Coke. I deserved it, right?

Wish me luck, I’m gonna need it.